When the UConn Huskies kick off their 2014 football campaign on Friday night against the BYU Cougars, it will be the 23rd straight year that Connecticut football will be broadcast on its flagship station, WTIC AM-1080 in Hartford, the state’s only 50,000 watt AM station.

The 2014-15 football and men’s and women’s basketball season also marks the third year that the radio rights are held by IMG College, which is UConn’s multimedia rights partner.

Veteran UConn announcers Joe D’Ambrosio (play-by-play) and Wayne Norman (color commentary) return to call the action with Kevin Nathan on the sidelines.

UConn football on home Saturday dates gets going early with “Breakfast At The Rent” with Ray Dunaway and Scott Gray beginning at 6:00 a.m. For noon games, the UConn Tailgate Show will air from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The pregame show begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by the game and then postgame “Husky Talk” with Nathan.

Stations on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Football Network are:

• WTIC 1080-AM in Hartford, CT
• WILI 1400-AM in Willimantic, CT
• WELI 960-AM in New Haven, CT
• WGCH 1490-AM in Greenwich, CT

The UConn IMG Sports Network airs the UConn Football Coach’s Show presented by Webster Bank throughout the fall, this week on Wednesday evening at the Wood-n-Tap in Vernon, Conn. Hosted by Joe D’Ambrosio, the show is heard on WTIC NewsTalk 1080 and WAVZ-1300 AM in New Haven.

Here’s a full look at the 2014 UConn Football schedule.

UConn Huskies head football coach Bob Diaco held his first pre-game press conference as a college head coach on Monday in anticipation of Friday night’s game against the BYU Cougars at 7 p.m. at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

Here’s a sampling of what he had to say:

Diaco got things started talking about how the team is ready for game week finally. He said there’s a change in energy.

He was asked what his emotions were like and he said he wasn’t nervous as of now for his first game as a college football head coach. He said the players have to go out and play.

He talked about BYU QB Taysom Hill being part of a physical team that is well coached. He said they are a well disciplined tough team.

Since BYU plays a faster paced offense, he said he will do his best to rotate players in and out. He’ll try to do it when the Cougars do it and hopes that the fast pace doesn’t hurt the student-athletes.

Diaco stated that there are no changes to the two-deep depth chart that was released at the end of camp.

He was asked about protecting the home field and said it’s very critical that they do that. He said the fans in the state have a great heart and doesn’t want those great fans to go home unhappy in a quiet car. He wants them to go home talking about this player or that play and joining in with the players singing the fight song at the end of the game.

Diaco said Casey Cochran has improved physically and has done a better job of protecting the ball. He said since he’s taken over there’s been no change in Cochran’s leadership style.

He said he talked with the running backs after Lyle McCombs left letting them know there were going to be more opportunities for them. Max DeLorenzo will probably see a bulk of the carries but the other three freshman (Josh Marriner, Ron Johnson, Arkeel Newsome) will see some as well.

He said DeLorenzo is a much better pass blocker but the three freshman are all willing to learn.

One of the things from the two deep was that John Green had moved to cornerback from wide receiver. While it was a move of nessecssity, Diaco said Green accepted the challenge and is willing to do what ever it takes for the team to win. Said Green is one of the more faster players on the team, a player of high football intelligence.

He said the defense will do the best job they can containing BYU QB Hill but he’s going to make his plays. Just need to limit the amount of them.

B.J. McBryde and Reuben Frank are seniors who haven’t played a lot but will be a big part of the defense that will try to stop BYU’s complicated offense. He said it’s almost like a triple option.

He said all the linebackers will play. He said as much as it is about preparation, playing in the games will allow them to get better.

Diaco stated that LB Graham Stewart has improved a great deal, has cleaned up his eyes meaning that they don’t roam as much anymore. He said captain Marquise Vann is and will be a very productive linebacker. Said he’s looking forward to watching Jefferson Ashiru play.

He also said the Cole Ormsby has gotten a lot better and continues to do. He said Vontae Diggs, Cameron Stapleton, Jon Hicks all in the same group.

He stated that opening with BYU will let them know where they stand and what they need to do going forward. Test against a formidable opponent gives them a instant barometer of where the program is at.

He said the offensive line is much improved from where it was nine months ago. But they still have a ways to go.

He said it’s a little hard to prepare for BYU with the changes in the roster but said it not as bad because they recruit the same type of player year in and year out.

Diaco stated the defense will have a different look than what he had with Notre Dame when they played BYU the past two years.

He said DeLorenzo can do all the jobs and is a well respected player. He received a lot of votes for captain.

He stated captain Byron Jones is a hard worker on and off the field. Not only just in football but academically, socially and in the strength and conditioning part of it all.

He said Jones, Cochran, Hicks, Marriner, Stewart, captain Alex Mateas and RT Andreas Knappe earned “Iron Huskies” awards during the strength and conditioning part of summer.

The team is healthy and that has to due with the players respecting each other.

Knappe is getting better but won’t play.

He said Deshon Foxx, Brian Lemelle, Marriner and Newsome will all see time returning kickoffs.

He ended his press conference with a lot of energy, almost like he flipped a switch when asked about what he wants from the team. Here’s the video.

We’ll have more later from the press conference as well as reactions from the available players as they get ready for their first game of the season.

This in from UConn via USA Basketball:

COLORADO SPRINGS – Featuring 27 athletes, the 2014 USA Basketball Women’s National Team will begin training in defense of the USA’s FIBA World Championship title on Sept. 8 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Additionally, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee has added a pair of athletes to the 2014-16 USA Basketball Women’s National Team roster in four-time USA Basketball gold medalist Bria Hartley (Washington Mystics) and three-time USA Basketball gold medalist Chiney Ogwumike (Connecticut Sun), and they are scheduled to take part in the fall training camp. The final 12-member, 2014 USA Basketball Women’s World Championship Team will be named prior to the start of the FIBA World Championship, which will be held Sept. 27-Oct. 5 in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey.

Hartley and Ogwumike were extended an invitation to join the USA National Team by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, which will also select the 2014 USA World Championship Team.

“The 27 who have been invited represent a cross section of what the USA National Team is ultimately all about,” said Geno Auriemma, 2013-16 USA National Team and University of Connecticut head coach. “It’s some of the best players in the world. It’s a combination of past Olympic and World Championship gold medalists. It’s also young players who have also won gold medals at various levels of USA Basketball, pros in the WNBA, college players, veterans and rookies and everything in between. I think we’re going to be able to pick a 12-player roster that’s going to be as good as any team we’ve ever had.

“Coming out of college last year, two of the best players in college basketball, they distinguished themselves over four years playing at the highest level and now they’ve gone onto play in the WNBA as rookies. With Chiney in Connecticut, I’ve had a chance to follow her progress. She’s been absolutely amazing and no one competes harder than Chiney does. Bria’s gone to Washington and played a great role in helping them make the playoffs this year with such a young roster that they have. So, I’m excited about the possibility of having both of them in the camp. I know both of them really wanted to be there last fall and couldn’t, so this is a great opportunity for them and I’m looking forward to seeing them out there.”

“Bria Hartley and Chiney Ogwumike were both invited to the USA National Team training camp last fall, but were unable to make it,” said Carol Callan, USA Basketball women’s national team director and member of the committee. “They have remained on the committee’s radar and with their USA Basketball international experience and play this season in the WNBA, the committee felt that we should extend an invitation to continue their involvement with the USA National Team.”

Athletes invited to participate in the fall training camp in hopes of being named to the 2014 USA World Championship Team include: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), DeWanna Bonner (Phoenix Mercury), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (New York Liberty), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Skylar Diggins (Tulsa Shock), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Hartley, Briann January (Indiana Fever), Jantel Lavender (Los Angeles Sparks), Kayla McBride (San Antonio Stars), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Chiney Ogwumike, Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Danielle Robinson (San Antonio Stars), Odyssey Sims (Tulsa Shock), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Monica Wright (Minnesota Lynx).

Athletes listed above who are not participating in the WNBA Finals will begin training camp Sept. 8-10 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. WNBA teams still in the playoff hunt include the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever in the East and Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury in the West.

Hartley first won gold with the 2010 USA U18 National Team at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, then collected gold medals playing for USA Basketball at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship, 2012 FIBA 3×3 World Championship and 2013 World University Games. She is a two-time NCAA champion with the University of Connecticut and currently has the Washington Mystics in the WNBA playoff hunt. The No. 7 pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft, Hartley averaged 9.7 points and 3.1 assists in the 2014 WNBA season and aided the Mystics to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Chiney Ogwumike teamed up with Hartley to win gold on the 2010 USA U18 National Team and 2012 USA 3×3 World Championship Team, and she captured her third gold medal at the 2011 World University Games. The No. 1 pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft and 2014 WNBA All-Star averaged 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game during the 2014 season and is a two-time (May, June) WNBA Rookie of the Month award winner. The USA National Team training camp roster includes three-time (2004, 2008, 2012) Olympic gold medalists Bird, Catchings and Taurasi; two-time Olympic gold medalists (2008, 2012) Augustus, Fowles and Parker; as well as 2012 Olympic gold medalists Charles, Moore, McCoughtry and Whalen.

Bird and Catchings have won two FIBA World Championship gold medals (2002, 2010); while Charles, Dupree, Fowles, McCoughtry, Moore and Whalen captured FIBA World Championship gold in 2010; and Augustus, Bird, Catchings, Parker and Thompson played on the 2006 USA World Championship Team that returned with the bronze medal.

The USA will compete in a pair of exhibition contests during its domestic training. The first game is the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Showcase, a Red versus White intrasquad game scheduled for Sept. 11 (7 p.m. EDT) at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Delaware.

ESPN2 will televise both USA Basketball Women’s National Team exhibition games, and both games will also available on WatchESPN.

Traveling up the coast to Bridgeport, Connecticut, the USA will train Sept. 14 alongside 2013 FIBA Americas Championship silver medalist Canada in Bridgeport, prior to the two teams squaring off in a Sept. 15 exhibition contest (7 p.m. EDT) at Webster Bank Arena.

Tickets for the USA Basketball Showcase can be purchased through the Bob Carpenter Center box office, by calling 302-831-2257 or online via ticketmaster.com; while tickets for the USA-Canada contest can be purchased through the box office at Webster Bank Arena, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or online via www.websterbankarena.com.

In addition to the domestic exhibition schedule, the USA squad will play four additional exhibition games in Europe against 2012 Olympic silver medalist France, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Australia, 2010 FIBA World Championship silver medalist Czech Republic and 2013 FIBA Asia bronze medalist China, prior to the start of the World Championship.

Finalists for the 2014 USA World Championship Team will compete in the 2014 France International Tournament in the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, Sept. 19-21. Opening against Australia on Sept. 19, the U.S. will face China on Sept. 20 and close the round-robin tournament against host France on Sept. 21.

From there, the Americans will head to Prague, Czech Republic, for an exhibition against Czech Republic on Sept. 23, before traveling to Istanbul for their final pre-World Championship preparations.

Auriemma will be assisted on the sideline by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and University of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

The USA owns a record eight gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals in FIBA World Championship play, while compiling an all-time 97-21 record at the event. In 2010, the most recent World Championship, the U.S. finished with a perfect 9-0 record and the gold medal.

In addition to Callan, members of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee include WNBA appointees Reneé Brown, WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations, Dan Hughes, San Antonio Silver Stars head coach and general manager, and Chris Sienko, Connecticut Sun vice president and general manager; and three-time Olympic and two-time FIBA World Championship gold medalist Katie Smith, who played in nearly 200 games for USA Basketball from 1993-2008, and serves as the athlete representative.

This in from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – Junior Nnamdi Amilo (New Fairfield, Conn.), who spent last season as a walk-on player, has been awarded a scholarship for the 2014-15 season, men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie announced Monday.

Amilo, a 6-3, 225-pound forward, saw action in two games last season, scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds. His work against the UConn big men daily in practice, however, proved invaluable as the Huskies prepared for games on their way to the 2014 National Championship.

“Nnamdi is a terrific young man who we’re proud to have as part of our family,” Ollie said. “He’s a hard worker on the court, doing whatever we need him to do to make his teammates better, he’s an outstanding student in the classroom, and he’s a young man of the highest character. I’m very happy to be able to give him a scholarship.”

Amilo, a molecular cell biology major with plans of a career in medicine, is also a resident adviser on the Storrs campus. He graduated from Avon Old Farms in 2012 as the top scholar in his class and a member of the Cum Laude Society. Amilo played three years of varsity basketball at Avon, under coach Tim Roller.

Amilo’s scholarship bring the total number of scholarship players on the 2014-15 Huskies to 12.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a DAILY basis.

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Video: UConn Football Coach Bob Diaco & Byron Jones on Jones Being Named Captain [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Football Coach Bob Diaco & Marquise Vann on Vann Being Named Captain [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn Football Coach Bob Diaco & Alex Mateas On Mateas Being Named Captain [sox & dawgs]

UConn Football Pep Rally On Thursday Night [sox & dawgs]

Huskies going to pass rush school [john silver – sny uconn]

2014 Football Team Previews: UConn [the american]

Coach Diaco On The Level Discussing Huskies [hartford courant]

UConn coach Bob Diaco taking Huskies in new directions [new haven register]

Norwalk’s Thomas has matured into a legitimate threat for the Huskies [the hour]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Impressive UConn streak to continue [jim fuller – new haven register]

Other UConn related links

Softball. UConn Softball to Hold Fall Walk-on Tryouts [uconn huskies]

W. Volleyball. Grunwald Names 2014 Team Captains [uconn huskies]

W. Volleyball. Volleyball Spends Saturday Morning At Annual “Kids Who Tri Succeed” Event [uconn huskies]

W. Soccer. Hill’s Penalty Kick Leads UConn Past Hofstra In Season Opener [uconn huskies]

W. Soccer. McGuire And Hill Tally In 2-1 Comeback Win Over Navy [uconn huskies]

M. Soccer. No. 8 UConn Earns 2-2 Draw Against Boston College In Preseason Finale [uconn huskies]

M. Soccer. UConn’s Larin Leaves No Doubt About The Goal [hartford courant]

Field Hockey. Field Hockey to Honor Tracey Fuchs Following Season Opener [uconn huskies]

This in from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – A pep rally will take place on Thursday, August 28 to get the entire University community psyched up for the opening football game the next day against BYU at Rentschler Field.

The rally will take place starting at 6:30 p.m. on the Storrs campus at the top of Fairfield Way – across Hillside Road from the Husky Dog Statue.

The team and head coach Bob Diaco walk from The Burton Family Football Complex to the pep rally location and arrive there at approximately 7:00 p.m.

The rally will feature the UConn football team and head coach Bob Diaco, plus the UConn Marching Band and the UConn cheerleaders. Joe D’Ambrosio, the Voice of the Huskies, from the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network, will emcee the event.

As we learned yesterday, the Boston Red Sox agreed to sign Cuban OF Rusney Castillo to a 7-year, $72.5 million deal. On Saturday, they made it official.

Here’s the release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today signed outfielder Rusney (roos-NAY) Castillo to a seven-year major league contract beginning in 2014 and continuing through 2020. 

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Castillo, 27, hit .319 (403-for-1,265) with 75 doubles, 11 triples, 51 home runs, 99 walks, 256 runs scored, and 76 stolen bases in 360 games over five seasons in Cuba’s major league, Serie Nacional. He spent all five campaigns with his hometown team, Ciego de Avila, and posted a career .383 on-base percentage, .516 slugging percentage, and .899 OPS while appearing primarily in center and right field.

The 5-foot-9, 205-pound Castillo last played in Cuba during the 2012-13 season and hit .274 with six doubles, two triples, six homers, and 29 RBI over 68 contests in which he struck out fewer times (29) than he walked (31).

During the 2010-11 season, the right-handed batter set career highs with 22 home runs and 95 RBI. The following season, 2011-12, he hit .342 in 113 games with 60 extra-base hits, including 21 homers, helping Ciego de Avila to the Serie Nacional Championship.

In 2011, Castillo also represented Cuba in the Baseball World Cup and the Pan American Games. He established residency in Haiti before signing with the Red Sox.

In the coming days, he will report to the Red Sox’ Fenway South facility in Fort Myers, FL to resume baseball activities. With the signing, the Red Sox’ 40-man roster is now at 39.

Here’s how his contract breaks down courtesy of Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald:

2014: $100,000 for remainder of season
2015: $10.5 million
2016: $10.5 million
2017: $10.5 million
2018: $11 million
2019: $11 million
2020: $13.5 million
Signing bonus: $5.4 million

After beating Puerto Rico 112-86 on Friday night, USA Basketball announced their 12-man roster for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Amongst the final 12 players are two former UConn Huskies basketball players in Andre Drummond and Rudy Gay.

Here’s the full release from USA Basketball:

NEW YORK – USA Basketball National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo announced Friday night the 12 players who will represent the United States at the 2014 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup that is being held Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain. The player announcement followed the USA’s112-86 exhibition victory over Puerto Rico Friday evening at Madison Square Garden.

Named as members of the official 2014 USA Basketball World Cup Team were: DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Rudy Gay (Sacramento Kings); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn Nets); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors).

“Since taking over the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program in 2005, this was without doubt the most difficult selection process we’ve gone through,” said Colangelo. “I can’t stress enough the outstanding effort and commitment that has been given by each finalist. I also want to make it clear that this is not just about talent – each player is incredibly talented and each player offered us unique skills. In the end it was about assembling the best team, selecting guys who we felt would be able to best play the kind of style we envision this team playing.”

“The first thing is we are very pleased with the overall effort of every player who was a part of the process,” said Mike Krzyzewski, USA head coach and Duke University’s Naismith Hall of Fame mentor. “To select twelve was difficult, because our pool is so good. As we go forward, we not only go forward as twelve, we go forward as a pool for USA Basketball. As a staff we want to thank the players who are not going forward.

“I’m excited about the 12 players selected and feel we have excellent versatility and the makings of a really good defensive team.”

Rounding out Krzyzewski’s USA National Team coaching staff as assistant coaches are USA Basketball and Syracuse University and Naismith Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams.

The USA will complete its pre-World Cup exhibition tour on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Training Aug. 24-25, the U.S. will close out its exhibition tour on Aug. 26 facing Slovenia at Gran Canaria Arena. The USA team will complete its training for the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup Aug. 28-29 in Bilbao, Spain, the site of its World Cup preliminary round games.

Since the first FIBA World Championship was held in 1950, the USA has won 11 medals – four gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals – while compiling an all time 114-27 win-loss record. Led By Krzyzewski, the Americans are defending World Champions having claim gold in Istanbul with a 9-0 record.

The 2014 World Cup, featuring a total of 24 national teams, is scheduled to be held Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain. The USA will play its preliminary round games in Bilbao, after being drawn into Group C along with teams from the Dominican Republic, Finland, New Zealand, Turkey and Ukraine.

The USA opens the 2014 World Cup on Aug. 30 against Finland, and then faces Turkey on Aug. 31 in a rematch of the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal game, a contest in which the USA claimed an 81-64 victory. Following a day off on Sept. 1, the USA resumes play Sept. 2 facing New Zealand. The U.S. will go against the Dominican Republic on Sept. 3 and will conclude its preliminary play on Sept. 4 facing Ukraine.

Each team at the 2014 World Cup will play the other teams in its preliminary group, and the top four finishing teams from each of the four preliminary round groups will then qualify for the round of 16. Winners of the round of 16 games will advance to the quarterfinals, while losers are eliminated. Winners of the quarterfinals games will advance to the medal round semifinals, while the quarterfinals losers are eliminated from the competition. Winners of the semifinals will advance to the Sept. 14 gold medal game, while semifinals losers will meet in the bronze medal game on Sept. 13.  The games from the round of 16 to the semifinals will be played in Barcelona and Madrid, and the bronze and gold medal games will be held in Madrid.

Rusney Castillo (R) of Cuba hits the ball during the Baseball Bronze Medal Match between Mexico and Cuba during Day 11 of the XVI Pan American Games at the Pan American Baseball Stadium on October 25, 2011 in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico.

Are the days of Jackie Bradley Jr. numbered in the Boston Red Sox organization? Could be a key offseason trade piece?

It’s extremely possible that it could happen depending on their plans for the offseason as there are reports that the team is about to sign Cuban free agent OF Rusney Castillo.

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com was first to report that Castillo would sign a six-year, $72 million deal with the Red Sox. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports added that the Red Sox would sign Castillo.

Alex Speier of WEEI.com and Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald both report that the deal is actually for seven-years, $72.5 million beginning this year and keeping Castillo in a Red Sox uniform through the 2020 season.

According to all of the published reports out there, Castillo is just about big league ready. So it is possible he could see a little time with the Red Sox this season.

I wonder if they’ll send him to Triple-A Pawtucket to get some at-bats in and then call him up when rosters expand to get him acclimated to big league pitching and ready for the 2015 season.